Vol. I No. 3 October

Vol. I No. 3 October ’76
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Vol. I No. 4 December ’76
The Continuing Adventures of Finieous Fingers
Minus Fred and Charly
30
April ’77
+4
+2
+l
+1
-1
If enemy leader breaks, is disabled, or killed.
Each enemy MU or Cleric that breaks, is disabled, or killed.
Every enemy fighter that breaks, is disabled, or killed.
Each comrade that berserks.
Each enemy that berserks.
In my play-by-mail campaign of Fantorgn, Humans make up the
predominate percentage of the population. The other, more exotic
races, are viewed with some suspicion and distrust, and this is reflected
in the effect of these other races on the morale of a party.
Each Elf in the party lowers Morale
-2
Each Dwarf lowers Morale
-1
Each 1/2 Elf lowers Morale
-5
Each Orc lowers Morale
-3
Each known Chaotic lowers Morale
-4
Representative Rating List of the Monster Morale Effect
Type of Monster
Man
Goblin/Kobald
Orc
Ghoul
Spectral Undead
Vampire
Manticora
Lycanthrope
Rating
0
+2
+1
-2
-6
-8
-3
-4
Type of Monster
Minotaur
Giant
Ogre
Beholder
Hell Hound
Dragon
Elemental
Balrog
These figures may be altered according to the tastes of the DM. The effects are meant to represent the general effect the monster will have on
men who are aware of their powers and appearance through legend and
tales. Experience may modify these effects downward.
EXAMPLE:
Klabath Durhn is in a party led by Maygreth the
Fierce (Charisma of 15), including two 6th level fighters and three 4th
level fighters, also a 5th level Mage and his three 2nd level assistants.
There are also three Village Priests from the local Temple. Klabath also
has a 1/2 elf guide and two elf hirelings as company. His loyalty to
Maygreth is 10 (as determined by the adjusted die roll). The party runs
into a pack of ogres, six in all, and they attack the party. Klabath is
near the front. How will he react?
Klabath has a Bravery of 14. This gives a bonus of + 1 which is
added to Maygreth’s Charisma Bonus (+2) and to the Loyalty Bonus
(0), giving a result of + 3. The Monster Morale Effect (6 Ogres at -2
each = -12) is figured. Maygreth is L7, so this is added to the pluses of
the other higher level fighters, clerics and mages, giving a total of + 19.
These factors are added (+ 3 -12 + 19 = + 10) The negative effect of
the elves is subtracted (-5 for the 1/2 elf and -4 for the other two =
-9). This leaves him at a net of + 1. Rolling against the chart, we get a
result of 5 on the 10-sided die. Cross-referencing the + 1 and the roll of
5, we find that Klabath will stand and fight. As the melee progresses,
the chart will be consulted when any new + ’s or -’s occur.
Rating
-4
-4
-2
-6
-5
-6
-8
-8
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Vol. I No. 7
The Prowler
Hit Dice: 14
Movement: 12
A/C: 1
Align: Evil - Highly Intelligent
50% Magic Resistant
Attacks: Constriction, 4-48 hp/turn
Bite, 1-8
No. Apearing: 1
When looking into the eyes of the Prowler it is necessary to make a
save vs magic or the victim will be irrevocably mind blanked, a zombei
under the control of the Prowler. (Those that save the Prowler will attempt to crush within its powerful coils.) The zombeis then become the
recipient of the monster’s eggs which she carefully injects underneath
the skin of the victims with the brown tentacles that line her mouth.*
The Zombeis are then turned loose to wander aimlessly about for 2-8
days until the eggs hatch and disclose their wriggling contents, cute little baby prowlers. The zombei now becomes their first meal, he lays
down calmly as the little devils pick his bones clean.
Some exceptionally intelligent prowlers have been known to form
hatcheries. They charm large numbers of people and use them as
guards and as hosts for their eggs. These hatching grounds will usually
be found in abandoned caves or underground.
To restore the minds of the zombeis it is necessary to acquire the
services of 3 Patriarchs, who simultaneously cast dispell evils upon the
zombei who then regains his mind.
*However no matter how tenderly she does this the victim still
takes 1-8 points of damage.
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September '77
2 9
October, 1977
29
December, 1977
REVIEW
NBC’S THE HOBBIT
Nothing is more disheartening than to see someone spend a great
amount of effort, time and/or money on a project only to do it wrong
or badly. Sad to say, that is just what happened with the Rankin/Bass
collaboration recently aired on NBC.
The first few minutes gave incredible promise — the art was beautiful and showed that the animators had spared no efforts in bringing
fine art to adult cartoons for prime time consumption, It is too bad that
a similar amount of effort didn’t go into the story development or to
verify authenticity. To be honest, I would be most interested to know
just whom they did consult. The pre-screening hype stated that they had
faithfully followed J.R.R. Tolkein’s epic fantasy and had consulted
with a committee of so-called Tolkein “experts” to insure that the finished product we had beamed into our homes would be authentic.
They failed miserably. If someone new to fantasy were to sit down
and watch that show, they would get some serious, incorrect impressions. Tolkein buffs (among whose numbers I sometimes place myself)
were sure to be horrified to see what had been done. The Dwarves in the
Rankin/Bass production were puny, cowardly and nearly craven in demeanor. Their physical “sameness” was very distressing; one of the
joys of reading THE HOBBIT was JRRT’S fascinating descriptions of
these intriguing visitors of Bilbo’s. Their rather pacific behavior is a far
more serious deviation.
Dwarves weren’t the only ones to suffer from a lack of character
development. Nowhere in the NBC production does the viewer get any
impression of just how different from normal hobbits Bilbo is. In what
is seen as basically a morality play by many people, to fail to develop
the character in this light is unforgiveable. The whole impact of what
Bilbo did in simply leaving his snug hole is completely lost on the uninformed viewer. That his unique character would be responsible for the
entire LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy, and all the repercussions this
would have on MIDDLE EARTH, is totally wasted on the viewer that
did not already know the story.
That a fantasy even got a prime time at all is a fine indication of its
resurgent popularity. Nothing could make this reviewer happier than to
see more quality fantasy and science fiction on the boob tube. Many
viewers that were unfamiliar with the story complained that they had
difficulty in following some of the compressed action. The device of
compressing action into a song, such as the one when the Dwarves were
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Vol. 2, No. 7
should never have been able to trap Korvassor, to
destroy him!
Niall had never felt so energetic. The power of
Devolian swam through his flesh, his veins. He
straightened, all the agony and its memory gone
from him. He put a hand on his sword, half-lifted it
from the scabbard.
“I have enemies too, Devolian. Let me —”
Nay, now. These are my enemies as well.
Forward swept that living curtain, toward the
priests and the acolytes of Korvassor, and when it
touched them, they became shimmering motes of
brightness that faded into nothingness. The high
priest screamed and whirled to flee but Devolian
swept forward, rushed over him — and the high
priest no longer existed.
The curtain poised, moved forward.
Thyra the Dark screamed once, a high shrilling
that reverberated from wall to wall of the temple.
She turned as had the high priest, but the curtain of
lights surged forward, touched and enveloped her.
Niall heard a faint, distant keening. Then — silence.
Slowly now, the curtain faded, and where it had
stood was emptiness.
Niall growled and moved toward Amyrilla. But he
was too slow. Lurlyr Manakor raced forward, his
hand getting a key out of his pouch. It was his hand
that inserted the key, his arms that caught the girl as
she stirred and looked up at him.
“Can you forgive me? It was not I but Thyra and
the high priest who condemned you. They worshipped Korvassor, it was they who insisted on restoring the old worship, the giving of sacrifices.”
Amyrilla smiled faintly. “There is nothing to forgive, Lurlyr. Yet there is thanks to be said — to
Niall.”
Lurlyr Manakor flushed and glanced sideways.
“There is that, of course. And you know how deeply
I am indebted to you, Niall. Ask what you will of
me. Except Amyrilla. Her I mean to marry, to make
my queen.”
Niall shrugged, remembering that he had acted because of Emalkartha. “No thanks are needed. I did
what — I had to.”
“You shall be given half my kingdom.”
Niall only shook his head. “I’m no ruler. I’m only
a warrior.”
“Then you shall be made general of my armies. I
shall build you a fine castle, I shall fill your chests
with gold and jewels. Come now, walk with us out
of this temple which is no longer a temple. Come,
Niall.”
“In a moment.”
28
He watched them move down the aisle, arm in
arm. Aye, they were going to be married, to rule together in Urgrik. But he? He who had helped bring
this all about? What was there for him that he
wanted?
It was a whisper in the air, no more. Yet every part
of his body quivered to the sound of that voice.
“Where are you?” he asked hoarsely.
“Soon I shall come to you, Niall. Soon, now. Be
patient.”
She came out of the shadows, almost naked, still
wearing those bits of rag which she had worn in Angalore. She was smiling, she was holding out her
arms. And Niall stepped into them.
He held her for a long time, kissing her. Oh, he
knew she would never stay here with him in this
world where he lived. But to have her like this, sweet
and warm and scented, her soft mouth under his,
was reward enough for him who was a sellsword.
Even when she went away from him, blowing him
those kisses, he did not despair. Some day she would
come to him again. For that he lived, for that he
would wait in patience.
—
the end —
May, 1978
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Vol. III No. 1
22
30
2 8
49
May, 1979
June, 1979
August, 1979
Vol. IV, No. 9
58
March. 1980
59
The Continuing Adventures of Finieous Fingers, Fred & Charly with ranger Rupert
By J.D.
60
The Dragon
Vol. V. No. 1
6 0
The Dragon
Vol. V. No. 3
60
Dragon
Vol. V, No. 5
Finieous Fingers & Friends in: Back to the Homeland, Part 1
74
by J.D.
Next: Battle for the Gate!!
73
Next: More fighting!
Dragon
Vol. V, No. 10
Finieous Fingers & Friends in: Rupert gets the point
92
Vol. V, No. 11
Finieous Fingers & friends in:
There’s good news, Governor, and there’s...
92
Dragon
June 1991
75
Dragon
Vol. VI, NO. 1
90
Dragon
September 1981
79
Finieous Fingers & Friends in: All good things must ...
80
end. Thanks!